BANANA CULTURE IN HAWAII 
15 
in Hawaii. Success may be obtained by planting 6 by (>; 6 by 7, 
7 by 7, 7 by 8, 8 by 9, and 8 by 10 feet; and greater distances are 
required for large plants, such as the Bluefields and Brazilian 
varieties. Large plants should be set at least 14 by 1-1 feet on land 
that is not very fertile, some growers preferring 15 by 15 and 
16 by 16 feet. The greater distances permit the growing of a larger 
number of suckers and fruiting trunks in each clump at the same 
time. With the greater distances between plants the suckers should 
be set in large holes, the size of which will depend upon the prepara- 
tion previously given the soil. In poorly prepared soil the holes 
must be made very large, being at least 4 feet across and V/ 2 or 2 
feet deep, depending upon the character of the subsoil. When the 
land has been thoroughly plowed and harrowed the holes can be 
made with a small amount of hand labor. Large suckers of the 
Chinese variety are set locally at selected distances in holes made in 
the bottom of the ditch with 5 or 6 inches of soil firmed around each 
plant. In dry weather the plantings should be watered as soon as 
the areas of acre-blocks are set. Table 6 gives the planting dis- 
tances and number of plants per acre. 
Table C>. — Planting distances and number of plants per acre 1 
Distances (feet) 
6bv6 
6 by 7 
7 by 7 
7 by 8 
8 by 9 
Plants 
(number) 
1,210 
1,037 
888 
777 
605 
Distances (feet) 
8 bv 10_ 
14 by 14 
15 by 15 
16 by 16 
Plants 
(number) 
544 
222 
194 
170 
1 " To find the number of plants required to set an acre, multiply together two distances, in feet, at which 
the trees stand apart, and divide 43,560 by the product; the quotient will be the number of plants required." 
(5, pp. 117-119). 
CULTIVATION 
Tillage is one of the most important factors entering into the 
production of good bananas, and success depends to a considerable 
extent upon the thoroughness of preparation given the soil before 
planting. 
Most of the typical banana lands of Hawaii are kept free of weeds 
by some sort of shallow tillage which is maintained until the plants 
are large enough to shade the ground completely. The implement 
best suited to shallow tillage is an animal-drawn, double-shovel culti- 
vator which loosens the soil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Some 
growers prefer using a 6-inch stirring plow, which effectively loosen:] 
the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. In cases where cultivators and 
plows can not well be used the work may be started with a spading 
fork and finished by hoeing. Cultivation is sometimes given after 
each rain or irrigation, and in other instances once in six or eight 
weeks. Only one cultivation a year is necessary after the plants 
become well established. 
In parts of the West Indies cover crops are grown during the 
wet season. A cover crop prevents surface washing, and when 
tinned under, enriches the soil and improves its texture. The 
Jerusalem pea (P/u/xeoIus trinervis) is most commonly used, as it 
makes a fairly dense growth in the shade of the banana plants. 
